Cicilline urges caution on Iraq

providencejournal.com

Saturday, August 9, 2014

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — U.S. Rep. David Cicilline said Saturday that while he respects President Obama’s “decision to provide humanitarian assistance” in Iraq, he is concerned that military involvement there “will ultimately lead to a re-engagement in a long and deadly sectarian war.”

“After almost a decade of war and the loss of thousands of American lives, the ultimate resolution of the conflict in Iraq will require a political solution not a military one,” Cicilline said in a statement. “Any political solution must be led by the Iraqis united behind a new prime minister and a fully inclusive government that respects the rights of religious minorities.”

Cicilline also said Mr. Obama “must seek proper authorization from Congress” if he wants to move “beyond the humanitarian effort.” And Congress, Cicilline said, “should be prepared to reconvene immediately to debate and consider such a request.”

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7 hours 49 min ago —
RT @tonysilber: Posted late on Friday, so I'm reposting ICYMI. Facebook and Google are choking the life out of the media ecosystem.… https://t.co/ZNeplXl0aC